Rutgers needs Savon Huggins to step up at running back

AP Photo
Savon Huggins, once a highly-rated running back recruit, hasn't lived up the billing since arriving at Rutgers, but he has the starting job once again after an injury to leading rusher Paul James.

PISCATAWAY — With Paul James, arguably Rutgers’ most valuable offensive piece, out, Savon Huggins re-enters the fold at running back. So, too, does a popular narrative of Huggins, a former top recruit, living up to unreasonable expectations.

“I get more questions probably about Savon than I do from myself,” head coach Kyle Flood said Wednesday. “I have ultimate confidence in Savon Huggins running the football. … I do understand when you make a depth chart change it’s going to create those types of questions.”

James suffered a lower-leg injury Saturday against Arkansas. He is out indefinitely. Flood saidthe pecking order starts behind Huggins.

By an unofficial count, James averaged 4.29 yards after contact in Rutgers’ three games against FBS opponents. With 40 less carries during the span, Huggins earned 1.16 after contact.

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More than 50 percent of Huggins’ contact came at the line of scrimmage.

“We’re both two different backs,” Huggins said after practice. “It’s really not about that. It’s really about doing your job. I’m not trying to compare myself to anybody else. All I have to do is do my job within the system like he did.”

That system has changed noticeably.

Coordinator Ron Prince arrived with intentions to use a zone-scheme run game. It is a concept that requires linemen to block a specific zone rather than a defender. The running back must be patient.

Through Rutgers’ last three games, a gap scheme — blockers often block down on a defender as another pulls — has prevailed more often than not.

“After a couple of games, he’s starting to see how the offensive line is more suited for certain plays,” Huggins said of Prince. “He’s calling the best plays for us as a unit, and they’re working.”

Flood said the program cannot change its run-first philosophy. But it has become clear junior quarterback Gary Nova has earned more freedom within Prince’s offense. Twenty-four of Rutgers’ 44 first-half plays against Arkansas came from the shotgun.

“I think we’ve tilted that way already,” Flood said. “We’re never going to be a team that gets away from running the football first.”

Huggins will receive priority. James will not play until at least after the Oct. 10 game at No. 7 Louisville. Redshirt freshman Desmon Peoples and true freshman Justin Goodwin could emerge, as well.

“As those players get opportunities to run the ball and earn carries, they’ll get more,” Flood said. “That’s really what happened with PJ.”

Before recording nearly 500 yards in four games, James received five carries in 2012 in mop-up duty. He dealt with a lingering ankle injury before that and added a hip flexor during spring practice.